Method and system for surveillance based on video-capable mobile devices

ABSTRACT

A method for an audio or video (A/V) capable mobile device includes responding to a call from a mobile device at a locale where the A/V capable mobile device is placed for monitoring an area of the locale, and determining whether the call corresponds to a designated identification for activating the A/V capable mobile device to monitor the area of the locale. The method also includes responding to the call from the mobile device if the call corresponds to the designated identification to activate the A/V capable mobile device. Upon responding to the call, the A/V capable mobile device monitors the area of the locale.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present teaching relates generally to surveillance. Specifically,the present teaching relates to method and system for surveillance usingmobile devices.

2. Discussion of Related Art

With the advancement of electronics, means to perform surveillancebecome more and more diverse. Currently, most surveillance systems adopta configuration in which there is a central monitoring site or amonitoring center connected with various installed monitoring sensors.In this configuration, the central monitoring site is responsible forthe operation of the entire system, collecting information from sensorsinstalled at various surveillance locations. Such collected informationincludes video or audio information. In addition, the central monitoringsite may also send monitoring instructions to different sensors tocontrol the operation or behavior of these sensors. In thisconfiguration, the location of the sensors are fixed so that the entiresurveillance system is static. Sensors can only collect information fromlocations where they are installed and a user can see the monitoredlocations only from the central monitoring site. In the meantime, thecosts for implementing and maintain this type of static surveillancesystem are high.

With the development and ever increasing popularity of mobile phones, ithas become feasible to utilize such mobile phones as a monitoringterminal to surveillance certain areas within the field of view.Existing applications include system that achieve surveillance byutilizing Short Message Service (SMS) via General Packet RadioServices/Code Division Multiple Access (GPRS/CDMA) data service andMultimedia Messaging Service (MMS). In addition, real-time video basedsurveillance systems emerged that is based on registration servers.There are disadvantages associated with existing systems. For example, asystem based on SMS can not support video based monitoring and MMS basedsystem, although possible to have visual information, can only transmitstatic images, which often can not precisely reflect the dynamic eventsoccurring at the monitored site in real time. Furthermore, systems basedon registration servers are often complex, expensive, and difficult touse. Due to these reasons, it is not possible to have wide surveillanceapplications with efficiency in terms of both cost and ease to use.

Therefore, there is a need to develop a surveillance scheme whichovercome the above problems and provide a wide range of users aflexible, convenient, and cost effective way for surveillance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventions claimed and/or described herein are further described interms of exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments aredescribed in detail with reference to the drawings. These embodimentsare non-limiting exemplary embodiments, in which like reference numeralsrepresent similar structures throughout the several views of thedrawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary diagram of a system in which mobile devicesare used collaboratively for surveillance, according to an embodiment ofthe present teaching;

FIGS. 2( a)-2(c) depicts an exemplary systems in which different typesof mobile devices work collaboratively for surveillance, according to anembodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary types of electronic devices with audio orvideo capabilities;

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary diagram of a system in which mobile devicescollaborate to conduct surveillance via electronic devices connectedthrough networks, according to an embodiment of the present teaching;

FIGS. 5( a) and 5(b) show exemplary interfaces of a mobile device inconnection with surveillance functions, according to an embodiment ofthe present teaching;

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary instructions used in connection withsurveillance via collaborative mobile devices, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary communication protocol and information flowbetween different mobile devices to enable surveillance, according to anembodiment of the present teaching;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a mobile devicecapable of being used as a surveillance terminal is remotely controlledby another mobile device for surveillance, according to an embodiment ofthe present teaching;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a mobile deviceoperating as a surveillance terminal interacts with another mobiledevice for surveillance control, according to an embodiment of thepresent teaching;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a mobile deviceremotely controls another mobile device to conduct surveillance,according to an embodiment of the present teaching; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a mobile deviceremotely activated by another mobile device controls various aspects ofsurveillance, according to an embodiment of the present teaching.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present teaching is for flexible and cost effective surveillance viamobile devices. With mobile devices, it is feasible to flexibly and costeffectively configure mobile devices to be placed at locations wheresurveillance is desired. Certain communication channels can bedesignated for activating and controlling various aspects of remotesurveillance based on mobile devices.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary system 100 in which a first and secondmobile devices 110 and 130, respectively, are used collaboratively forsurveillance via a network 120, according to an embodiment of thepresent teaching. In this configuration, the second mobile device isplaced near an area of a locale where surveillance is desired. Thesecond mobile device 130 is a terminal that is capable of acquiringaudio, image, or video information from the area of the locale where itis configured. The first mobile device is configured to collaborativelywork with the second mobile device to achieve remote surveillance. Here,remote surveillance refers to a scenario where the first and secondmobile devices are communicative via a network 120. This network 120 canbe a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet,a wired network, a wireless network, a virtual network, a proprietarynetwork, or any combination thereof.

In operation, a user can configure the second mobile device 130 near anarea where surveillance is desired. Such configured second mobile device130 is to collaboratively work with the first mobile device to achievesurveillance. For instance, the user may leave the locale and take thefirst mobile device 110. In this manner, the first and second mobiledevices are separated yet can communicate with each other via thenetwork 120. In some embodiments, the user may utilize the first mobiledevice 110, while away from the locale where the second mobile device130 is placed, to remotely active the second mobile device 130 to invokecertain functions for monitoring the area of the locale where the secondmobile device is configured. The user may also use various functionsavailable on the first mobile device 110 to remotely control how thesecond mobile device 130 is to surveillance the area of interest. Inthis configuration, the first mobile device 110 may act in a more activerole and control the operation of the second mobile device 130. Whilethe second mobile device 130 may play a more subordinate role in thiscollaborative mode of surveillance operation.

In some embodiments, the second mobile device 130 may be configured toplay a more actively role. Once configured to monitor an area, thesecond mobile device 130 may be activated to continuously surveillancethe area prior to activating the first mobile device 110. Informationacquired during the surveillance may be analyzed and used to detectcertain pre-determined events. If a certain pre-determined event isdetected, the second mobile device 130 may initiate a communication withthe first mobile device 110. When the communication channel between thesecond and first mobile devices is established, the second mobile device130 may then transmit certain information to the first mobile device110. Such transmitted information may be the information acquired fromthe area under surveillance or other information, e.g., a description ofthe event detected. Once the first mobile device is activated, the userof the first mobile device can then use the first mobile device 110 tomonitor the area under surveillance remotely.

As discussed herein, the second mobile device 130 is configured toconduct surveillance of an area by acquiring information related to thearea. Such an area can be any locale in any setting. For example, it canbe a room or an area of a room at a home, an office, or any locationwhere surveillance is desired. The surveillance may be based oninformation acquired from area of the locale where the mobile device 130is placed. Such acquired information may be audio, images, or video.Depending on how the second mobile device 130 is configured, theacquisition of information by the second mobile device 130 may bedirected to a single modality or multiple modalities. For example, thesecond mobile device may be configured to acquire only audio withoutimage or video information. It may also be configured to acquire bothaudio and video. It may also be configured to acquire audio in acontinuous manner but acquire snapshot pictures with a certain timeinterval.

A workable configuration of the second mobile device 130 may bedetermined based on various considerations such as bandwidth availableor desired mode of operation. For example, if the bandwidth is limited,the second mobile device 130 may be configured to acquire only audioinformation in connection with the area under surveillance. But if it isneed to have a silence monitoring of the surveillance area using thefirst mobile device, the second mobile device 130 may be configured toacquire only images or send only images to the first mobile device 110but store locally the audio information.

A configuration made to the second mobile device 130 may also bedynamically changed remotely by a user via the first mobile device 110through control functions available on the first mobile device 110. Forexample, if the user is in a meeting, the user may configure the secondmobile device 130 to send only images or video without sound. Once theuser is out of the meeting, the user may reconfigure the second mobiledevice 130 to send audio information. Via the first mobile device 110, auser may also change the role played by the second mobile device 130from one operational mode to another. For instance, if the second mobiledevice 130 is initially configured to act in a passive operational mode(need to be activated by the first mobile device and merely sendinformation to the first mobile device once activated), it can bedynamically re-configured by a user via the first mobile device 110 toenter into an active operational mode in which the first mobile device110 may enter into a sleep mode or hyphenate mode while the secondmobile device 130 not only acquires information but also analyzes theacquired information to detect certain event. Once an event is detected(described in detail hereinafter), the second mobile device 130 theninitiates a communication with the first mobile device 110 or wakes thefirst mobile device 110 for remote monitoring.

FIGS. 2( a)-2(c) depicts an exemplary systems in which different typesof mobile devices work collaboratively for surveillance, according to anembodiment of the present teaching. In FIG. 2( a), a mobile phone 220with audio or video (A/V) capability is used as the second mobile device130. Any mobile device 210 with corresponding capability may be used asthe first mobile device 110. In FIG. 2( b), a network capable computingdevice 230 is connected with an information acquisition device (e.g., avideo camera). In this embodiment, although the network capablecomputing device may not be equipped with information acquisitionability, it is capable of communicating with such an informationacquisition device and together they serve as the second mobile device130. For example, a laptop (mobile) connected to a video camera foracquiring information (as shown in FIG. 2) is capable of performing thefunctionality of the second mobile device 130.

In FIG. 2( c), an electronic device 240 with video capability may alsobe used as the second mobile device 130. Various types of electronicdevices may fall within this scope. FIG. 3 shows exemplary types ofelectronic devices with video capabilities. For example, an electronicdevice 240 with video capabilities includes a personal data assistance310 (PDA), a hand held device 320, a video camera 330, a web camera 340,a camcorder 350, and any surveillance camera 360 that can be installedin a flexible manner.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary system 400 in which mobile devicescollaborate to conduct surveillance via electronic devices connectedthrough networks, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. InFIG. 4, the mobile device 210 and the mobile device 220 interface withdifferent networks 410 and 420, respectively. Via the network 410, themobile device 210 interacts with any of electronic devices 430, 440, . .. , 450, which may serve as an intermediary to connect to the mobiledevice 220 via the network 420. In this configuration, the electronicdevices 430, 440, . . . , 450 may be used simply as a relay or adistributed component working collaboratively with the mobile device 220to behave collectively as the second mobile device 130 (see FIG. 1).Alternatively, the electronic devices 430, 440, . . . , 450 may alsoserve as a relay or a distributed component working collaboratively withthe mobile device 210 to behave collectively as the first mobile device110 (see FIG. 1).

While serving as a relay, the electronic devices 430, 440, . . . , 450may simply forwarding information between the mobile devices 210 and220. While serving as a distributed component, the electronic devices430, 440, . . . , and 450 may process information received from a mobiledevice and send the processed information to the other mobile device.For instance, a computer located in a household may be used to receiveinformation from a mobile device located outside of the household (e.g.,210) via the Internet (e.g., network 1 410) and passes on theinformation received to a mobile device located inside of the household(e.g., 220) via a network inside of the household (e.g., the LANnetwork).

The information passed from the outside of the household to the mobiledevice inside of the household may be instructions to activate themobile device inside of the household to perform surveillance operation.In the meantime, surveillance information acquired by the mobile deviceinside of the household may be transmitted via the internal network(LAN) to the mobile device located outside of the household via theelectronic devices 430, 440, . . . , 450 through the network 410.Alternatively, signals received by the electronic devices may beprocessed to, e.g., extract useful information or generating modifiedinformation. For instance, an electronic device (e.g., a laptop) mayfurther compress video information from the mobile device located insideof the household before sending it to the mobile device located outsideof the household due to bandwidth considerations. In addition, anelectronic device receiving video from a mobile device acquiring videoinside of the household may enhance the contrast of the video imagesbefore sending it to the mobile device located outside. The level ofmodification made to the video on the contrast may be based on aninstruction received earlier from the mobile device located outside ofthe household. In this manner, the electronic device and the mobiledevice inside act as an collective and each perform different functionsto achieve surveillance for the household.

FIG. 5( a) shows an exemplary monitor setup interface 505 of a mobiledevice 500 in connection with surveillance functions, according to anembodiment of the present teaching. The exemplary interface 505 has asection called “Start Auto-Response” which has a list of auto-responsenumbers 535. For example, there are three numbers 13773432543,15083465210, and 13973422782 are listed, respectively. Those numbers maycorrespond to identifications that the mobile device 500 can recognizeas designated numbers that are used in association with remotesurveillance by collaborating with another mobile device.

When the mobile device 500 receives a call, it may check whether thecall is from any one of the designated numbers. If it is from adesignated numbers, the mobile device 500 may enter into anauto-response mode. If the mobile device 500 is for surveillance (e.g.,placed at household for monitoring an area), it may activate itsmonitoring capability by starting surveillance of a locale where it isplaced, e.g., acquiring video of an area and sending the acquiredinformation to the mobile device corresponding to the calling mobiledevice. Alternatively, if the mobile device 500 is for monitoring thesurveillance (e.g., outside of a household), it may automaticallyrespond to the call by starting reception of surveillance information(e.g., receiving and displaying video information).

On interface 505, there may be other functional keys to enable othercapabilities. For example, there is a menu button 530 that may allow auser to see what other options available. There is also a “Return”button 525 that may allow a user to return to a previous menu. The“Auto-Dial” button 520 may be used by a user to check designated numbersthat the mobile device may be able to connect for surveillance purposes.This is shown in FIG. 5( b), in which a list of auto-dial numbers 540,any one of which may be used to establish a communication channel withanother corresponding mobile device and to activate that mobile deviceto remotely start surveillance and send the surveillance data to thecalling mobile device.

In some embodiments, using the “Menu” button 530, a user may invoke moreoptional control capabilities (not shown). For example, variousinstruction options may be invoked and a user may use such instructionsto remotely control the behavior of a mobile device in terms of how toacquire surveillance information. For instance, a user using a mobiledevice to receive surveillance information from another mobile device(e.g., activated previously by it) may need to control the quality ofthe pictures received in order to be able to see the scene beingmonitored.

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary instructions used in connection withsurveillance via collaborative mobile devices, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present teaching. For instance, for video basedsurveillance, in the table shown in FIG. 6, column 600 provides a listof exemplary instructions, including instructions controllingenlargement of pictures 620, instructions controlling shrinking ofpictures 625, instructions controlling contrast of pictures 630,instructions controlling brightness of pictures 635, and instructionscontrolling rotation of pictures 640. Column 605 provides exemplarycodes representing corresponding instructions, column 610 providesexemplary control parameters used in instructions (e.g., enlargeinstruction can have different parameters indicating different degreesof enlargement), and column 615 provides description of the controlfunction to be achieved via individual instructions. For instance, withparameter value 1 for instruction for brightness, it may indicate toincrease the brightness by 20%. Parameter 1 used in conjunction withinstruction for left rotation may indicate to rotate clockwise by 90degrees.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present teaching, for videobased surveillance, the exemplary instructions may be coded in a formatof “a specific surveillance instruction identifier+space+instructioncode+parameter”. More specifically, the specific surveillanceinstruction identifier may be defined as “Monitor”, and may also bedefined as other identifier or in other formats which facilitaterealizing the remote control operation. It should be understood that theinstructions shown in FIG. 6 are for illustrative purposes only, andother instructions may also be used in the surveillance and theinstructions may be coded in other formats for the video basedsurveillance.

These exemplary instructions may be implemented via software orhardware. In addition, such implementation may be based on some standardprotocol such as 3G-324M and introduce value-added additional ormodifications to introduce features discussed herein according to thepresent teaching. When implemented in such exemplary manner, theapplication of surveillance may be realized by taking advantage of thewidely used 3G network infrastructure. Other implementations utilizingdifferent protocols or network standard may also be used to achieve theteachings discussed herein.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary communication protocol and information flowbetween different mobile devices to enable surveillance, according to anembodiment of the present teaching. In realizing the communicationbetween mobile devices for surveillance, various communication protocolsmay be adopted. For example, the third generation wireless technologies,e.g., the 3G standard, may be adopted to implement the teachingdiscussed herein. Utilizing its bandwidth and the support forpoint-to-point video capabilities, 3G can be utilized for implementingthe scheme of using mobile devices for surveillance. In the exemplarycommunication protocol as illustrated in FIG. 7, two mobile devices UE 1705 and UE2 715 communicate via a network 710 according to the sequenceof events illustrated in FIG. 7. It is understood that this exemplaryprotocol is merely illustrative and any other communication protocolsmay be used to achieve automatic communication for surveillancepurposes.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a monitoringmobile device capable of being used as a surveillance terminal isremotely controlled by another activating mobile device forsurveillance, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. Uponbeing placed at a locale to surveillance an area, a monitoring mobiledevice may first enter into, at 805, a standby mode, in which the mobiledevice may be at a state without activity yet capable of receivingsignals. The monitoring mobile device remains in the standby mode untilit receives, at 810, a request for communication or a call. Uponreceiving the call, the monitoring mobile device examines, at 815,whether the call is from an identification or a number designated forsurveillance. If the call is not from a designated identification ornumber, the mobile device may then hang up, at 820, the call or simplydo not automatically pick up the call and then go back to standby modeat 805.

If the call is from a number designated for surveillance, the mobilephone automatically responds to the call from an activating mobiledevice attempting to activate the monitoring mobile device, at 825, andenter into an auto-response mode at 830. In the auto-response mode, themonitoring mobile phone may perform multiple functions, includingacquiring information from the surveillance area and transmit, at 835,such acquired information to the activating mobile device. Tosurveillance the area, the monitoring mobile device may acquireinformation from the area of the locale. Such information may be audio,video, or combination thereof. The information to be acquired may bepre-determined or may be determined on the fly based on the designatednumber recognized. For example, a certain designated number maycorrespond to information of different modality or some combination.Therefore, by recognizing the designated number used for the call, themonitoring mobile phone may determine the operation needed to acquireinformation.

During the surveillance, the monitoring mobile device may also receivesignals simultaneously. If such received signals correspond to dual tonemulti-frequency (DTMF) listed instructions, determined at 840, sent fromthe activating mobile device, the monitoring mobile device analyzes, at855, the received instruction and determines, at 850, whether thereceived instruction corresponds to an termination instruction. If thereceived instruction corresponds to a termination instruction, themonitoring mobile device terminates the surveillance operation, at 860,and return to the standby mode at 805. If the received instruction isnot a termination instruction, the monitoring mobile device performs anoperation as instructed at 845 and returns back to the auto-responsemode at 830.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a monitoringmobile device operating as a surveillance terminal interacts with aremote mobile device for surveillance, according to an embodiment of thepresent teaching. In this embodiment, the monitoring mobile deviceactively surveillances an area of a locale where it is placed at 905.This may be done by acquire information from the area to be monitoredand analyzes such acquired information, at 910, to detect certainpre-determined events. Exemplary events may include special audio sound(e.g., baby crying), particular visual event (e.g., fast moving object),or flashing light. If no such event is detected, determined at 915, themonitoring mobile device

If some pre-determine event is detected, the monitoring mobile devicemay operate to automatically make a contact to another remote mobiledevice. To do, the monitoring mobile device may automatically identifyan auto-dial communication channel, at 920, designated to contact theremote mobile device and then automatically connect (dial) to the remotemobile device at 925. Once the connection to the remote mobile device isestablished, the monitoring mobile device transmits, at 930, theacquired information, optionally with information describing thedetected event, to the remote mobile device.

Similarly, during the surveillance, the monitoring mobile device mayalso receive signals simultaneously. If such received signals correspondto dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) listed instructions, determined at935, sent from the remote mobile device, the monitoring mobile deviceanalyzes, at 960, the received instruction and determines, at 950,whether the received instruction corresponds to an instruction toterminate the monitoring. If the received instruction corresponds to aninstruction to stop monitoring, the monitoring mobile device terminatesthe surveillance operation, at 965, and enter into a standby mode at970. When the monitoring mobile device enters into a standby mode, itbehaves as a monitoring mobile device as described with reference toFIG. 8, in which the monitoring mobile device may need to be activatedby the remote mobile device (now an activating mobile device).

If the received instruction is not an instruction for terminating themonitoring, the monitoring, the monitoring mobile device furtherdetermines, at 945, whether the received instruction is to terminate theconnection with the remote mobile device (e.g., if a user of the remotemobile device decided, after reviewing the surveillance informationreceived from the monitoring mobile device, that it is not worthwhile tocontinue the remote monitoring), the monitoring mobile device terminatesthe call, at 955, and returns back to the monitoring mode at 905. If thereceived instruction is neither to stop monitoring nor terminating thecall, the monitoring mobile device performs an operation (e.g.,adjusting contrast, brightness, or volume of the audio, etc.), at 940,with respect to the acquisition of the surveillance information and thenapplies the adjustment to the information transmitted to the remotemobile device at 930.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a control mobiledevice remotely collaborates with a monitoring mobile device to conductsurveillance, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. Toactivate a monitoring mobile device located remotely for surveillance anarea of a locale where the monitoring mobile device is placed, a controlmobile device identifies a designated communication channel (e.g., adesignated number) at 1010. Based on the identified identification, thecontrol mobile device connects, at 1020, to the monitoring mobile device(the monitoring mobile device recognizes the designated identificationand enters into an auto-response mode to enable the connection).

Once the connection is made, the control mobile device receivessurveillance information, at 1030, from the monitoring mobile device. Atthe same time, a user of the control mobile device may issue, at 1040,instructions to the monitoring mobile if there is a need to adjust anyaspect of the information received. For instance, if the user desires tosee more clearly any area of received video, the user may issueinstructions to enlarge or zoom a certain portion of the video. Uponreceiving such instructions, the control mobile device may then receivesurveillance information updated in accordance with such issuedinstructions (at 1030). When the user desires to terminate the remotesurveillance, the user may control to terminate the process by, e.g.,hang up the control mobile device at 1050. In some embodiments, it isalso feasible to issue a special instruction to terminate thesurveillance. In some embodiments, such termination may be applied onlyto transmission. In some embodiments, such termination may stop thesurveillance operation of the monitoring mobile device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in which a control mobiledevice remotely contacted by a monitoring mobile device actcollaboratively for surveillance, according to an embodiment of thepresent teaching. A control mobile device located outside of an area ofa surveillance locale may initially be in a mode in which remote controlof the surveillance is not activated (now shown). The control mobiledevice may then receive a call at 1110. It is automatically determined,at 1120, whether the call is from a channel designated for surveillanceand corresponding to a remote monitoring mobile device. If the call isnot from a designated channel, the control mobile device enters, at1130, into a manual pick up mode. In this mode, it is up to the user ofthe control mobile device to determine whether he/she will respond tothe call.

If the call is from a channel designated for surveillance, it is anindication that a remote monitoring mobile device initiated the call andwant to connect. In this case, the control mobile device automaticallyenters into an auto-response mode at 1140. In some embodiments, it isalso feasible to set the control mobile device to operate so that itallows a user to override the auto-response mode and proceed with manualresponse mode. In this case, the user can determine whether to respondto the call or not (now shown).

Once the connection is made, the control mobile device receivessurveillance information, at 1150, from the monitoring mobile device. Atthe same time, a user of the control mobile device may issue, at 1160,instructions to the monitoring mobile if there is a need to adjust anyaspect of the information received. For instance, if the user desires tosee more clearly any area of received video, the user may issueinstructions to enlarge or zoom a certain portion of the video. Uponreceiving such instructions, the control mobile device may then receivesurveillance information updated in accordance with such issuedinstructions (at 1150). When the user desires to terminate the remotesurveillance, the user may control to terminate the process by, e.g.,hang up the control mobile device at 1170. In some embodiments, it isalso feasible to issue a special instruction to terminate thesurveillance. In some embodiments, such termination may be applied onlyto transmission. In some embodiments, such termination may stop thesurveillance operation of the monitoring mobile device.

While the inventions have been described with reference to the certainillustrated embodiments, the words that have been used herein are wordsof description, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made,within the purview of the appended claims, without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention in its aspects. Although theinventions have been described herein with reference to particularstructures, acts, and materials, the invention is not to be limited tothe particulars disclosed, but rather can be embodied in a wide varietyof forms, some of which may be quite different from those of thedisclosed embodiments, and extends to all equivalent structures, acts,and, materials, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method for an audio or video (A/V) capable mobile device,comprising: responding to a call from a mobile device at a locale wherethe A/V capable mobile device is placed for monitoring an area of thelocale; determining whether the call corresponds to a designatedidentification for activating the A/V capable mobile device to monitorthe area of the locale; and responding to the call from the mobiledevice if the call corresponds to the designated identification toactivate the A/V capable mobile device, wherein upon responding to thecall, the A/V capable mobile device monitors the area of the locale. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein the A/V capable mobile deviceis a mobile phone; and the mobile device is a mobile phone.
 3. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein said monitor the area of the localecomprises: acquiring information in connection with the area of thelocale; and transmitting the information of the area of the locale tothe mobile device.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein theinformation in connection with the area of the locale is videoinformation.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the informationin connection with the area of the locale is audio information.
 6. Themethod according to claim 3, further comprising responding to aninstruction from the mobile device with respect to the monitoring. 7.The method according to claim 6, wherein the responding to theinstruction includes: receiving an instruction from the mobile device;adjusting the monitoring in connection with the area of the locale basedon the received instruction; and transmitting the information acquiredbased on the adjustment to the mobile device.
 8. The method according toclaim 7, wherein the instruction received from the mobile deviceincludes at least one of: an instruction for adjusting a parameter of acamera on the A/V capable mobile device; and an instruction foradjusting a parameter for audio acquisition used in the A/V capablemobile device.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein theinstruction for adjusting a parameter of a camera includes: aninstruction for adjusting contrast of a picture acquired by the camera;an instruction for adjusting a brightness of the picture acquired; aninstruction for adjusting the orientation of the camera; and aninstruction for adjusting a zoom of the camera.
 10. The method accordingto claim 8, further comprising a termination instruction that instructsthe A/V capable mobile device to terminate an operation.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the A/V capable mobile device terminatesthe operation upon receiving the termination instruction.
 12. A methodfor an audio or video (A/V) capable mobile device, comprising:monitoring an area of a locale, where the A/V capable mobile device isplaced to monitor the area of the locale by acquiring information inconnection with the area; analyzing the acquired information to detect apre-determined event; automatically connecting to a mobile device basedon a pre-determined channel designated to communicate with the mobiledevice regarding the information in connection with the area of thelocale; and transmitting information to the mobile device.
 13. Themethod according to claim 12, wherein the information transmitted to themobile device includes the information in connection with the area ofthe locale.
 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein theinformation in connection with the area of the locale includes at leastone of audio, video information, and a combination thereof.
 15. Themethod according to claim 12, wherein the information transmitted to themobile device includes information related to the pre-determined event.16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: receiving aninstruction from the mobile device; and responding to the instruction.17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the responding to themobile device includes: analyzing the instruction; and adjusting theacquisition of the information in connection with the area of the localebased on the received instruction.
 18. The method according to claim 17,wherein the instruction received from the mobile device includes atleast one of: an instruction for adjusting a parameter of a camera onthe A/V capable mobile device; and an instruction for adjusting aparameter for audio acquisition used in the A/V capable mobile device.19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising transmittingthe information acquired based on the adjustment to the mobile device.20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising a terminationinstruction.
 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein thetermination instruction directs the A/V capable mobile device toterminate the connection to the mobile device.
 22. The method accordingto claim 20, wherein the termination instruction directs the A/V capablemobile device to terminate the monitoring of the area upon receiving thetermination instruction.
 23. A method for a mobile device, comprising:identifying a designated identification for activating an audio or video(A/V) capable mobile device placed at a locale for monitoring an area ofthe locale; initiating a connection to the A/V capable mobile device byusing the designated identification to activate the A/V capable mobiledevice; receiving a signal from the A/V capable mobile device indicatingthat the monitoring operation is activated; and receiving, from the A/Vcapable mobile device, information in connection with the monitoring ofthe area of the locale.
 24. The method according to claim 23, whereinthe A/V capable mobile device is a mobile phone; and the mobile deviceis a mobile phone.
 25. The method according to claim 23, wherein saidmonitoring the area of the locale comprises: acquiring information inconnection with the area of the locale; and transmitting the informationof the area of the locale to the mobile device.
 26. The method accordingto claim 25, wherein the information in connection with the area of thelocale is at least one of audio and video information.
 27. The methodaccording to claim 23, further comprising sending to the A/V capablemobile device an instruction with respect to the monitoring.
 28. Themethod according to claim 27, wherein the instruction sent to the A/Vcapable mobile device includes at least one of: an instruction foradjusting a parameter of a camera on the A/V capable mobile device; andan instruction for adjusting a parameter for audio acquisition used inthe A/V capable mobile device.
 29. The method according to claim 28,further comprising receiving the information in connection with the areaof the locale acquired based on an adjustment made in accordance withthe instruction.
 30. The method according to claim 28, wherein theinstruction for adjusting a parameter of a camera includes: aninstruction for adjusting contrast of a picture acquired by the camera;an instruction for adjusting a brightness of the picture acquired; aninstruction for adjusting the orientation of the camera; and aninstruction for adjusting a zoom of the camera.
 31. The method accordingto claim 28, further comprising a termination instruction that instructsthe A/V capable mobile device to terminate an operation associated withthe monitoring the area of the locale.
 32. A method for a mobile device,comprising: receiving a call from an audio or video (A/V) capable mobiledevice placed at a locale for monitoring an area of the locale;determining whether the call corresponds to a designated identificationfor activating the mobile device; automatically responding to the callif the call corresponds to the designated identification; and receiving,from the A/V capable mobile device, information in connection with themonitoring of the area of the locale, wherein the A/V capable mobiledevice places the call to the mobile device when the A/V capable mobiledevice detects a pre-determined event from information acquired by theA/V capable mobile device while the A/V capable mobile device monitorsthe area of the locale.
 33. The method according to claim 32, furthercomprising sending to the A/V capable mobile device an instruction withrespect to the monitoring.
 34. The method according to claim 33, whereinthe instruction sent to the A/V capable mobile device includes at leastone of: an instruction for adjusting a parameter of a camera on the A/Vcapable mobile device; and an instruction for adjusting a parameter foraudio acquisition used in the A/V capable mobile device.
 35. The methodaccording to claim 34, further comprising receiving the information inconnection with the area of the locale acquired based on an adjustmentmade in accordance with the instruction.
 36. The method according toclaim 34, further comprising a termination instruction.
 37. The methodaccording to claim 36, wherein the termination instruction directs theA/V capable mobile device to terminate the connection.
 38. The methodaccording to claim 36, wherein the termination instruction directs theA/V capable mobile device to terminate monitoring the area of thelocale.